Schools across Ogun State are set to introduce a new environmental programme aimed at promoting recycling, climate action and green entrepreneurship among students.
The W2WA School Programme, initiated by Waste2wealthAfrica Hub (W2WA) in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment through the Environmental Management and Climate Change Club (EM3C), is designed to move environmental education from classroom awareness to practical action.
The programme seeks to teach students that waste, when properly managed, can become a resource with environmental and economic value.
Under the initiative, participating schools will engage in weekly activities covering waste auditing, segregation, collection, recycling economics, composting, climate change, climate action and green entrepreneurship.
The programme will culminate in environmental exhibitions and graduation activities.
Founder and Project Lead of W2WA, Tunde Solarin, said the initiative was designed to change students’ perception of waste and encourage them to participate in environmental protection.
‘We want students to see waste differently. They should understand the environmental problems caused by poor waste management, but also recognise the value that can be recovered when waste is properly sorted, collected and recycled,’ he said.
Solarin added that schools were important starting points for building a culture of responsible waste management and environmental stewardship.
The initiative will expose students to the recovery and recycling of materials including plastic bottles, paper, cartons and metals, while also introducing them to composting and the economic opportunities associated with recycling.
According to the organisers, the programme is also expected to promote school cleanliness, responsible waste handling and student-led environmental activities.
Technology will form part of the programme, with the W2WA digital platform supporting school registration, documentation, activity records, recycling records, monitoring and reporting.
The organisers said the collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and EM3C would provide an institutional framework for strengthening environmental and climate education in schools.
W2WA has developed a structured weekly training and activity framework and is engaging relevant ministry and EM3C stakeholders on programme alignment, monitoring and reporting.
The organisation said schools, educators, environmental organisations, recycling stakeholders and community groups were being encouraged to support and participate in the programme.
It said the long-term objective was to make environmental responsibility part of everyday school life while equipping young people with knowledge and practical skills to contribute to cleaner and more sustainable communities.